What is measuring your blood pressure?
Measuring your blood pressure at home is an easy way to help your GP understand how your blood pressure changes throughout the day. You should use an accurate blood pressure device to measure your blood pressure.
Measuring your blood pressure can help your GP find out if you have high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure can cause problems such as stroke and heart disease. Your GP may also use your home measurements to make decisions about treatment for an existing disease or condition. You can ask your GP how to properly measure your blood pressure to get an accurate reading.
What can I do to record my blood pressure at home?
Your GP will ask you to record your blood pressure four times a day, for five-to-seven days.
For the best results, you should:
- Use a cuff that fis your arm properly
- Do your measurement before eating, taking medication or doing exercise
- Don’t smoke or drink alcohol for 30 minutes before your measurement
- Don’t take a measurement if you are uncomfortable or in pain
When you are ready to take your measurement, you should follow these steps:
- Sit with both feet flat on the ground
- Take two measurements, one-to-two minutes apart
- Record each measurement in one place (you can print the PDF version of this page and use that)